[millionyearsago]

Ok, I don't remember what I wore to every party or in what order I visited the parties. So my memories may be pretty disjointed.

We had set of 18 or "Tours" split into two days.

Then set of 10

Then set of 6

Then Preference (3 houses.)

This was before release numbers, computerized returns, you're guaranteed to have a bid if you go to maximum parties, etc.

Ok. I really really wanted to join a sorority and don't really have an excuse as to why I didn't rush as a freshman. But I didn't. I remember one night when I was walking back from a guys dorm who I met and we started seeing each other and I was walking up by where many of the sorority houses are I kept hearing cheering and yelling and seriously thought the cheerleaders were practicing. This is how crazyily ignorant I was.

Side bar about the guy: he was NEVER going to rush a fraternity and we broke up when I got back together with my loser boyfriend. The guy ended not only rushing and pledging the quintessical fraternity on campus but became president. Crazy!

So I finally rushed as a sophmore. I had so so grades. I was pretty cute. I wouldn't say I was socially awkward I really wouldn't. But I was pretty quiet and sweet and smart I just was clueless. I have always been preppy , from a very affluent county but not rich myself. I really discovered my taste in clothing/music etc in college and had a social life. I had a social life in high school but not the type of social life that I wanted until college and being in a sorority had a huge impact.

I won't lie. I wanted to be in a sorority to be popular and pretty. I wanted to be in a top house but had no clue who the top houses were. I grew up watching Revenge of the Nerds and wanted to be a Pi and not an Omega Mu!

So tours was CRAZY. Back then it was in the fall semester. I remember I wore a green skirt my second day of tours but don't remember anything else.

This was before no frills rush.

The sororities were full on -- banging on the doors and then rushing onto the lawns and doing a choreographed dance and then bringing you in. It was wild.

My opinions of the houses were as follows:

Detroit Lions -- they were one of my favorites. The girls were super pretty. Funny how without knowing which houses were "top" I knew right away which ones were because the prettiest girls were where I wanted to be with. I remember I had (or thought I had) an exra ticket to the football game and thought I had the ticket on me. I was going to give it to the girl but didn't have it on me. I also realized that my nails weren't done and I think she noticed that too. Crazy how maybe I'm not an ignorant as I thought.

Let me back up a second: I was a legacy to New York Giants through my aunt. My grandmother by marriage was a Denver Bronco, my great grandmother by marriage was a Minnesota Vikings and my bf's two sister in laws were a Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions. I put all that down on my sheet and didn't ask anyone for a single rec. I had no clue I needed any. Ignorant yet again. I do wonder if getting a rec would have helped me as I loved Detroit Lions, Broncos and Vikings very very much.

Chargers -- small house. That was the kiss of death on my campus. You needed to see numbers!!

Giants -- legacy there. Liked the house but there was an older girl from my high school who was in the house and for some reason I wanted to go to another house because of that. I liked her but wanted to be "better" than her.

Packers -- one of the "Jewish" houses and lower tiered at that. Didn't know anyone in that house nor any other sorority for that matter.

Rams -- yikes. So sad. Very very small house. They came out in black shorts, white oxfords, cummberbune, bow tie and they had to restart their dance. It was very sad to see them struggling so much.

Ravens -- another "Jewish" house and probably the "lowest" of the Jewish houses

Bears -- decent house. Down to earth middle of the road house. If I had been honest with myself, I would think I would fit in great with them.

Steelers -- another struggling house. They were way too enthuisastic and though they had some higher numbers than the rest of the struggling houses (there were several then) I remember knowing I would cut them.

Jets -- another Jewish house of average reputation.

Bills -- top tier. They were directly across from another top tier house and between the two of them screaming from inside their houses to rushing out doing their lawn dance it was a sight. A girl I went to junior high school who was so rich she NEVER bought anything on sale ended up being their president. It was a bit Jewish (the school has a large jewish population) and it was a good house full of pretty girls.

Redskins -- my favorite going in. Though I wasn't so jazzed about their house. It was the girls I liked. Their lawn dance as we were exiting I can still sing today. Top tier all the way.

Dolphins -- lower tier. Struggling. Two girls my freshman year ended up pledging there and they were so cute but I was surprised they went there. It was kinda weird seeing them at parties after living in the same hall but not really talking. They probably didn't know what to do with me. Invite me back? Cut me before I cut them? Weird.

Vikings --Top tier. Preppy pretty girls. Lots of cheerleaders were from this house. They all wore pearls. And those sweaters with the rounded design on the neck that Mallory Keaton wore. LOVED these girls.

Broncos -- their house was the castle. They were beautiful sophisticated girls. So out of my league I can't even tell you.

Bengals -- another middle tiered down to earth house full of cool girls. Thinking back could see myself in that house. Ended up working with a girl and she was so beyond cool.

Eagles -- probably the bottom of the top tiered house. Smart. Pretty.

Colts -- another struggling chapter. In fact, I think they were recolonizing so they had what -- 25 girls when the good houses had 120.

Falcons -- the top Jewish house.

Saints -- they were colonizing. All the party consisted of was alumnae singing and then a presentation. They would rush after all the bids were handed out.

After the 18 houses you automatically dropped Saints. So that left you 5 houses that you had to cut (providing you were asked back by all houses.)

I truly thought that the rushee decided where they wanted to go. I knew it was mutually decided but I didn't really believe that.

I was invited back to all houses except Lions which was heartbreaking! I thought it was because I either didn't have the ticket on me like I thought and/or my nails weren't done. Looking back, it was probably that but also my grades. I think they cut if you had less than a 3.2 GPA which I didn't have.

I cut: chargers, giants, rams, steelers, colts

*Sorry that I forgot to add the Falcons until just now. It doesn't affect the houses who cut me, who I cut. I just may have gotten my numbers confused. I think having the Saints colonizing and dropping out made me forget to not keep them in my total number of houses I could go to/went to. I'm so sorry for the confusion!